THE DOSE: HUEY
Huey speaks out about his upcoming album Redemption, his takes on hip-hop, and upcoming
projects in an exclusive Urban Feed interview.
Ke’Andrea “Kiki” Ayers
Editor-In-Chief
The Urban Feed
The St. Louis native had everyone “Pop, Lock and Droppin,” when his hit single was released from his debut album titled Notebook Paper in 2007. Huey is back and this time with another hit single, “Smile & Wave” featuring Dorrough. His sophomore album titled “Redemption” will be released in stores and online everywhere
September 14, just two days after his 22nd Birthday. The Urban Feed caught up with Huey today to discuss his upcoming album and the situation he was going through while out of the music game for the last couple of years. This is what he had to say:
How did you get your start in music?
Basically I was into music as a child. It started in church. My momma raised us at the church house. I started playing the drums and keyboard here and there. My momma bought me a keyboard when I was 14 years old. After I got that key board I started making beats and from there, started rapping to those beats. Five years later I ended up being signed to a major label.
How did you come up with the name Huey?
My last name is Huey and I was the baby boy of the family so I was baby Huey.
How was it like growing up in the music scene in St. Louis Missouri?
It was hard. Everyone was trying to make it. The next man coming up might be the next man trying to knock you. Mainly, in St. Louis if you want to try to come up and be successful you have to surround yourself around hotter people and stay a way from a negative environment or else you’ll get off track because you’ll get off track by the haters and the critics.
Your debut album Notebook Paper dropped in 2007. Why did it take you so long for you to record your sophomore album?
I was steadily according for one but the main reasons why that break even occurred is because of the simple fact that I had to get myself out of that last situation. I said one in my family that handled my team so I had to get out of his committee and get into a new situation and now that I am, I’m out here again right now. Other than that I spent time with my daughter, finished recording. I had interviews and shows here and there. I always try to make myself stay relevant as possible.
How did the collaboration for your first single “Smile and Wave” with Dorrough come about?
It started from twitter. Me and Dorrough were following each other on twitter and we ended up on the road together. We emailed each other the track and when he sent his verse we put it together. The song goes out to the haters. Instead of us being from the hood and acting in a negative way lets kill them with kindness and Smile and Wave.
What’s the meaning behind the title of your sophomore album redemption?
I feel like I let my fans down. There were die hard fans for Huey and I need to redeem myself. That has something to do with myself to. There’s a lot of people that look at me as a dance record type artist and I’m not. There’s more to Huey than “Pop, Lock & Drop It.” The world was so focused on that so they never really got a chance to know that or to know who Huey is. I have to redeem myself to a lot of people.
Your dropping your sophomore album around the same time as your 22nd Birthday. Was that planned?
Yes, my birthday is on the 12th of September and my album drops September 16th. Everyone go out and get the album. Follow me on twitter @Huey314 and add me on skype at HueyOmg. We have fun on skype and I definitely respond to twitter messages.
What would you say the hardest part about being a rapper is?
I would say the hardest part about being a rapper for real is staying humble. All of this hype can get to your head, change you and who you are. You can turn into someone you never planned on turing into. The hardest thing is to stay humble, stay focused and remember where you came from. Another hard thing is trying to be that one hit wonder and trying not to let the label put you in a position that you think is good when the whole time it’s bad. That’s very hard especially your first time around. I had to go through that myself but you live and you learn.
Who are some artist that inspired you?
From Wayne to Eminem, to Juelz Santana to Jeezy to Plies. Any artist that is out here doing their thing have all helped me when it comes down to hip-hop. You have to keep up with the industry. You can’t make the industry keep up with you.
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